Binaural program system



Dec. 14, 1937.

R. DUNCAN, JR

BINAURAL PROGRAM SYSTEM Filed Feb. 11, 195e 2 sheets-,sheet 1 i INVENTOR. 1 bErtD.Duh Em Jr.

- ATTORNEY.

Patented-Dee. 14, 193g.v

PATENT l ol-llcs z,1oz,14 4 mAURAL PROGRAM SYSTEM Robert D. "Duncang Jr.,

East orange, N. J., ss-

signor to Wired Radio, Inc., New York, N. Y., a. corporation of Delaware I Y Application February 11, -1936, Serial No. 63,461

4 Claims.

This invention pertains in general to the transmission of programs and speciically Arelates to suchsystems for transmitting programs inauditory perspective.

' The principal object of the invention comprises providing a system having means for simultaneously transmitting a plurality cipro ram signals and an arrangement for utilizing s ch program signals for producing binaural effects. This system is particularly adapted for the transmission of programs by wired radio facilities in which programs are transmitted at discrete mdulated carrier frequencies over Wire networks.

A further object of the invention consists in producing a transmission and reception system for 4multiple binaural program channels.

A further 'object of the invention comprises providing a-multif-channel broadcasting system including an arrangement for selectively utiliz-V 'ing such channels in desired .combinations for program transmission purposes. I

.'-without auditoryl perspective or binaural; pro" grams .having auditory perspective. Thgt is.,

` ther, the system ofthe invention providesa sys- :isl

'I'hese andl other objects will be apparent from the following, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which like .-reference nul.merals designate correspondingpartsf and in' which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of transmission equipment provided in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic representation oi' receiving equipment for cooperation sion equipment of Fig. l; an

Fig. 3 is graphical representation of typical irequency'conditions in the operation 'oi' the sys'- tem.- l f The invention contemplates the provision o a program distribution system in which bina al programs are made available to subscribers. It'

is one of the features of the inventionithat subscribers ofdiierent classes may be served-for receiving either mon-aural straight programs various subscribers served by the same transmission network are adaptedin different, senses to receive dierentlyc'haracterized programs. Furtem whereby 'the program channels can be selectively connected with different studiosor modulation sources for adapting the program channels individually to either mon-'aural program broadcasting or program broadcasting in auditry Pel?- speetive for binaural purposes.

Referring to the' drawings in detail and particularly to Fig. 1. a transmission network i 'is with the transmisrent from the power equipment shown. In this" 5 W embodiment of the invention, the system will be described as operating over commercial power lines in accordance with wired radio practice, a1- though other transmission arrangements utilizing independent lWire lines and the like may be uti- 10 i lized if desired. The power substation 2'includes carrier frequency equipment comprising a master oscillator 3 which operates into a harmonic generator and amplifier 4. The master oscillator 3 provides sustained carrier frequency oscillations 15 to the unit which produces harmonicallyl related discrete" carrier lfrequencies in amplied form which are deliveredI over a circuit to the individual transmitters59 which are respectively utilized for transmitting program channels A-E. Each ofv these transmitters operates through associated lters lli-44 which in turn operate through capacity couplings into the power network feeder lines I. lThe transmitters 5-9 include known equipment for producing modulated polyphase carrier frequency energy. A llof the lters lil-I4 are of the band pass. type for limiting the transmission output of the associated transmitters to discrete program channels such as represented by the channels w-'e shown'in Fig. 3. 3'0 'I'herepresentation o! Fig. 3 illustrates the relation; of these program channels along the frequency spectrum. l f The program studio i8 includes studios i1-2I corresponding to program channels A'-E. Each 35 of the studiosinclude's a suitable pick-up such as a microphone `and ampliner controlled thereby. These studios are. associated with the' transmission of programs which are not oi' the auditory perspective type. The program studio I@ also 40 'includes st udio 23 Aand studio 24, respectively designated as studio 4i-A and studio B-B These two studios are for transmitting programs in auditory perspective and each includes microphones 25. and 26 operating into amplifiers 21 '45 and 28;- The microphones 25 and 26 in eachA studio are positioned in physical displacement, such as upon opposite sides of a stage, for collectively picking up sound waves in auditory per- 50 spective.

It-will be understood that the s'tudios I'I-2i as well as studios 2l and 24, andthe arrangement and number of pick-up systems therefor are an illustration oi a typical form o! the invention The output circuits from the amplifiers of the studios I1 and I8 are connected to a switching system while the output circuits from ampliviiers of studios I9 and 20 are connected to the switching system 3l. Further, Aconnections from the output circuits of studios I1'-20, as well as a. connection from studio 2l, are provided to the individual terminals of selector switch 32. The output circuits from ampliers 21 and 28 of. studio 23 are connected with switching system 30. while the output circuits from amplifiers 21 and 25 of studio 24 are connected with switching system 3|. In the right-handposition of switching system 30, amplifiers 21 and 28 of studio 23 are respectively connected with transmitters 5 and 6, while in the right hand position of switching system 3l the amplifiers of studio 24 are respectively connected with transmitters 1 and 8. In the left hand position of switching system30 the ampliiers of studios I1 and I9 are respectively connected with transmitters 5 and 6. vIn the left hand position of switching system 3l the amplifiers of studios I9 and 20 are respectively connected with transmitters 1 and 8. The selec- Ator switch 32 may be operated lto connect any one of the studios I1-'-2I with the transmitter 9.

- It will be seen, in this arrangement, that the studios l1--2I can be individually utilized to' control transmitters 5 9. On the other hand, studio 23 may operate through transmitters A and B to transmit the same program divided into auditory components individually transmitted by transmitters 5 and-6, while studio 24 may operate in a similar manner to transmit the auditory perspective components of a program by transmitters 1 and 8.

Consideration will now be given to -the reception of programs in accordance with the invention. As shown in Fig. 2, the lines I are provided with a plurality of transformers 40 and 4I.V

These transformers are of the usual step-down type for providing consumers voltages of alternating current from the high tension feeder lines I. The transformers and 4I are respectively connected with consumers' secondary distrlbution circuits 42 and 43. The usual service equipment, including master switch, fuse panel, and watt-hour meter, is not shown.

The distribution circuit 42, representative of the consumers house circuit, is4 provided with equipment for the reception of binaural programs whereas the distribution circuit 43, representative of another consumers house circuit, is provided with equipment for the reception of straight programs without auditory perspective. The distribution circuit 42, in addition to connections with the usual power consuming equipment, is provided with power connections to wired radio receivers 45 and 46. These receiversv also include signalling connections through .auxiliary wire lines 41 and 48 capacitively coupled with the distribution circuit 42. Such circuits are adapted for the special reception of signalling energy and may extend to connecting points at various other portions of the secondary circuit. For example, these special, circuits may be connected to the commercial high tension side of the step-down transformer 49. The. receivers 45 and 46 are provided witntranslating devices such as loud speaking units 49 and 50. These units are spatially positioned within the consumers dwelling in correspondence with the spatial position of the microphones 25 and 26 in the studios 23 and 24. I l

Receivers 45, 46, and 53 are adapted to receive frequencies as represented by curves a to "e. To produce the auditory perspective or binaural effect, receivers 45 and 46 at any one time are paired to individually receive signals respectively within different ones of the frequency bands represented by curves a" to c, For example, re-

. tory perspective components for each program being individuallyreproduced by the loud speaking units.49 and 50, respectively spatially positioned in the consluners dwelling ln correspondence with the position of the microphone units in the studios.

The consumers distribution circuit 43 includes power connections to' a wlred'radio receiver 53 having'a single input circuit 54.- This receiver 53 `is-provided with a loud speaking unit 55.

The frequencyl selection circuits of the receiver 53 are adjusted to render' the receiver responsive to a program within the frequency bands represented by the curves al", ci, or eI", of IFig. 3, these curves corresponding to the ranges represented by the curves a, c, and e. The receiver 53 -is therefore not of the binaural type and is adapted for the reception of straight pro grams. ,However, since the selection circuits of the receiver 53 are' adjustable to but one of the auditory perspective component channels of each of the binaural ranges, there is no evidence at the receiver to lead the consumer to any annoying duplication of programs in changing from one channel to the other such as might take place if he were able to receive both channels (1" and b and both channels .c andA d., ,Obviously by not using either of receivers 45 or 46 simultaneously with its companion receiver, the remaining receiver will give mon-aural reception.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the system of' my invention provides for the trans'- mission and reception of wired radio programs in which means are provided for enabling various consumers of diierentclassications to receive straight or mon-aural programs and binaural programs to produce auditory perspective. Although I have shown a preferred embodiment of my system, it will be obvous that various changes can be made therein without departing from the intended scope of my invention.

I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to the foregoing except as may be pointed out in y the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. An electrical transmission system comprising, a transmission medium comprising a commercial power network, means for transmitting over said medium a plurality of channels coml prising modulated discrete frequency bands, proselective reception of carrier frequencies transmitted thereover. one voi! saidreceiving stations,

being provided with a plurality of receiving means for simultaneously .receiving from said different.

ycha'nnelsQand translating units respectively conv nected with said .receiving means and spatially positioned in correspondence with the position of said pickfup devices, and another of said receiving stations being provided with receiving A means 'for the reception at any one time of sig'- :nals -transmitted over said medium through one of said channels, said receiving means including Y power operated devices and connections from said network for supplying commercial power as well as signalling energy to said means.

Y2. An electrical transmission system comprising; a transmission medium, means for transmitting over said medium aplurality of channels comprising .modulated discrete frequencyb'an ds,

.program means including at least two' pick-up devices spatially positioned with respect to each other for picking up waves respectively in diierentauditoryaspects for producing a plurality of programs each comprising at least two program components individually transmitted through said channels, said pick-updevices .operating to `individually loperate through said channels, and a plurality of receiving stations operatively associated with said medium for the selective reception of carrier frequencies transmitted thereover,

one of said receivin'gstations being provided with a plurality of receiving means for simultaneously receiving from said different channels, .and transsaid last mentioned receiving means being operative to select between programs but not between said .program components inthe reception ofv signalling energy from said channels.

'3.,y An electrical ltransmission system compris-'- ing. a transmission medium comprising a coml 2,102,144 loperativelyy associated with said medium for-the mercial power network, means for transmitting over said lmedium a plurality ofchannels comprising modulated discrete frequency bands, program means including at least two pickup`de.

vices spatially positioned with respet to each other for picking up waves respect vely in ditferent Vauditory aspects, said pickpdevices op-v erating to individually operate through said channels, and a plurality of receiving stations operatively associated with said medium for the lselective reception of carrier frequencies trans- "mitted thereover, one of said receiving stations being provided -Awith a plurality of receiving means for simultaneously receivingfrom said diierent channels, and translating units respectively --connected with saidreceiving means andv spatially positioned in correspondence with the position of said pick-up devices, and another of said receiving stations being provided with receiving means for the reception at any one time of signals transmitted overisaid medium through one of said channels, Said receiving means including power operated devices, and including 4both power and signalling connections from said network to said receiving means.

4.v An electrical transmission system compris-'- ing, atransmission medium,`means' for trans'- mitting lover said medium a plurality of channels `of vdiscrete carrier .i'requencies, program meansfor .picking up program waves in auditory per-` spective from different program sources and including a pluralityof sets`ot wave pick-up devices each pick-up device operating through one -of saidvchannels, and each set of pick-up devices operating to transmit the auditory perspective components of a particular program, receiving means coupled with said medium and comprising plural organizations each for respectively re-v ceiving' one of the components corresponding to any one of the'programs, translating meansgand selection control .means for controlling saidorganizations to conjointly 'deliver 4to said translating means the' separate components of a par' Y fticular program of any one of several programs.A y

transmitted y oversaid aoBEa'r p. nUNcAN, Jn. 

